Toilet flush tank accessory



Feb. 8, 1955 J. F. DIEDERICH TOILET FLUSH TANK ACCESSORY INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,701,702 Patented Feb. 8, 1955 TGILET FLUSH TANK ACCESSORY Joseph F. Diederich, La Grange, 111.

Application April 26, 1950, Serial No. 158,236

4 Claims. (Cl. 248302) The present invention relates to toilet flush tank accessory, and is particularly concerned with improvements in the devices disclosed by my prior application, Ser. No. 139,207, filed January 18, 1950, on Supporting Brackets and Vapor Dispensers for Use in Toilet Flush Tanks, now abandoned.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved accessory for toilet flush tanks by means of which a supply of deodorant or disinfectant may be sup ported in a flush tank, from the overflow pipe, in such manner that the vapors resulting from the supply may be mixed with the air which comes into the flush tank every time the toilet is flushed and the water runs out, and the air mixed with vapors is dispensed into the bathroom and into the bowl through the overflow pipe by the water coming into the flush tank to fill it with water, which drives out most of the air.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved accessory for flush tanks which may be supported by means of the overflow pipe, which may also be used for supporting the toilet brush in the flush tank above the water level and below the cover so that this brush, which is an eye sore if exposed in the bathroom, will be stored in a convenient and accessible, but enclosed, space.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved supporting device for deodorants, toilet brushes, and deodorant containers, which is equally adaptable to all sizes of flush tanks, and which requires no modification of its structure to be installed in any type of flush tank having an overflow pipe.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved supporting device for deodorants and toilet brushes to be used in the upper part of a toilet flush box below the cover, which is sturdy, simple in construction, capable of economical manufacture, and adapted to be used for a long time without necessity for repair or replacement of any of its parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accornpanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the one sheet of drawings accompanying the specification,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a toilet flush box, with the cover removed, equipped with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the upper end of a toilet box overflow pipe provided with a supporting bracket for supporting a cake of deodorant, a container for deodorant, or disinfectant, and a toilet brush;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a supporting bracket of the type illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the device of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. l, indicates in its entirety the flush tank assembly, which includes the usual tank 11, having a cover (not shown), a valve 12 controlled by a float 13, and an overflow pipe 14. The overflow pipe usually has a small metal tube 15 turned downwardly into the upper end of the overflow pipe 14, the purpose of this tube being to supply the bowl with additional water so that it will have a greater supply of water than it would otherwise have and so that a water seal will be assured.

The present apparatus is arranged so that it will not interfere with the tube 15 in the overflow pipe 14.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, in this embodiment of the invention the supporting bracket is indicated in its entirety by the numeral 16; and this bracket is preferably made of metal wire, and it is adapted to support a conventional toilet brush 17, a cake of deodorant 18, and a container 19 for disinfectant or perfume, all on the same bracket.

In other embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the other figures, the brackets may be so constructed as to perform a single function, supporting the deodorant or the container or both, or being for the sole support of the brush with or without either of the two other items.

The bracket 16 has a lower U-shaped portion 20, comprising a pair of legs 21, 22 joined by an easy bend 23. The easy bend 23 is preferably of sufficient diameter so that when the bracket legs 21, 22 are bent together, the U-shaped portion 20 has a substantial fit inside the overflow tube 14, engaging diametrically opposite points.

Referring to Fig. 4, at the points 24 in each leg 21, 22 the wire may be bent laterally, having a lateral portion 25 in each wire, which spaces the upwardly extending portions 26 and 27 laterally of the lower U-shaped portion 20. This offset 25 is for the purpose of keeping the accessory out of the way of the mechanism in the flush tank; and the offset may be eliminated in some embodiments of the invention.

The upwardly extending portions 26 and 27 of the bracket preferably diverge from each other to provide a pair of brush supporting loops, which are spaced farther from each other than they would be if the diagonal portions 26, 27 were not diverging.

Thus the diagonal portion 26 is bent downwardly at 28 to form a circular loop 29 of suflicient size to receive the handle 30 of the brush 17.

The diagonal portion 27 is bent downwardly at 31 and formed with a partially circular loop 32 also of a size sufiicient to support the handle 30 of the brush 17. The loop 29 is preferably almost closed, or substantially closed, so that it supports the handle 30 from above, as well as from below; but the loop 32 may be half open so that the greater length of the handle 30 may be disposed toward the right in Fig. 2, bearing downwardly on the loop 32.

When it is desired to provide a support only for a brush, the bracket so far described is sufiicient, and the other parts may be eliminated; but the wire of loop 29 is preferably extended laterally, as shown in Fig. 2 and bent at 33 to extend longitudinally of the handle 30 and provided with another loop 34 having an outwardly flared end portion 35.

The loop 34 is preferably arranged with its parts horizontal; and it is preferably of suflicient size to extend about the neck of a container 36, such as a cylindrical glass bottle having a threaded upper end. The loop 34 may then be clamped between the body of the bottle 36 and the inwardly threaded cover 37, which is threaded upon the neck 38.

Such a deodorant container 36 may have its cap 37 provided with apertures 39 for the escape of the vapors from the container into the air space above the water in the flush tank 11.

The loop 32 is also preferably provided with an oppositely extending lateral extension 40, which is formed into an upwardly open hook 41. Such a hook may be used for supporting a cake of deodorant 18, which is molded and provided with a U-shaped supporting wire or eye 42, the lower end of which is anchored in the cake 1% by being embedded and provided with anchoring formations.

Thus the bracket of Figs. 1 to 4 is adapted to support a brush, a container for perfume or antiseptic, and a cake of deodorant in the space above the water of a flush tank.

The operation of my deodorant is as follows: When the flush tank is flushed, the water running out draws in a fresh supply of air through the crack under the cover and through the overflow pipe which leads to the bowl. This air is mixed with vapor from the deodorant or per- 0 fume container or a vaporizable disinfectant.

When the tank fills again with water, the mixed air and vapor is driven out mainly through the overflow pipe into the bowl, and thence into the room; but also through the crack beneath the cover. Thus deodorant or other vaporizable reagents may be dispensed into the bowl and the room whenever the toilet is flushed.

The present supporting devices for brushes, deodorants, disinfectants and perfumes may be manufactured very economically, may be installed in any size of flush tank, and may be completely assembled before shipment.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and i do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a toilet box accessory for use with a toilet box having an upwardly extending and upwardly open overflow pipe, the improvement which comprises a substantially U'shaped metal wire bracket having a pair of upwardly extending legs biased outwardly from each other, and of a size to engage diametrically opposite points inside said pipe, the said legs having outwardly diverging portions extending from a bend at the top of said pipe, one of said diverging portions being provided with a laterally extending, upwardly open semi-circular portion for supporting a brush handle, and the other of said portions being provided with a substantially circular bent portion extending transversely to said legs, for receiving the unbalanced end of a brush handle, the said partially circular and circular wire portions being of a size for slidably receiving the round handle of a brush to be stored in the toilet box above the water level.

2. In a toilet box accessory for use with a toilet box having an upwardly extending and upwardly open overfiow pipe, the improvement which comprises a substantially U-shaped metal wire bracket having a pair of upwardly extending legs biased outwardly from each other, and of a size to engage diametrically opposite points inside said pipe, the said legs having outwardly diverging portions extending from a bend at the top of said pipe, one of said diverging portions being provided with a laterally extending, upwardly open semi-circular portion for supporting a brush: handle, and the other of said portions being provided with asubstantially circular bent portion extending transversely to said legs, for receiving the unbalanced end of a brush handle, the said partially circular and circular wire portions being of a size for slidably receiving the round handle of a brush to be stored in the toilet box above the water level, one of said circular portions being provided with an integral extension which is partially circular and located in a horizontal plane for extending about the neck of a threaded deodorant 6011- tainer, to be confined on said neck by a threaded cap having apertures.

3. In a toilet box accessory for use' with a toilet box having an upwardly extendingand upwardly open overflow pipe, the improvement. which comprises a substantially U-shaped metal wire bracket having a pair of upwardly extending legs biased outwardly from each other, and of .a size to engage diametrically opposite points inside said pipe, the said legs having outwardly diverging portions extending from a bend at the top of said pipe, one of said diverging portions being provided with a laterally extending, upwardly open semi-circular portion for supporting a brush handle, and the other of said portions being provided with a substantially circular bent portion extending transversely to said legs, for receiving the unbalanced end of a brush handle, the said partially circular and circular wire portions being of a size for slidably receiving the round handle of a brush to be stored in the toilet box above the water level, one of said circular portions being provided with a laterally extending and upwardly open hook for supporting a body of deodorant which is provided with an upwardly accessible eye.

4. In a toilet box accessory for use with a toilet box having an upwardly extending and upwardly open overflow pipe, the improvement which comprises a substan-' tially U-shaped metal wire bracket having a pair of upwardly extending legs biased outwardly from each other, and of a size to engage diametrically opposite points inside said pipe, the said legs having outwardly diverging portions extending from a bend at the top of said pipe, one of said diverging. portions being provided with a laterally extending, upwardly open semi-circular portion for sup porting a brush handle, and the other of said portions being provided with a substantially circular bent portion extending transversely to said legs, for receiving the unbalanced end of a brush handle, the said partially circular and circular wire portions being of a size for slidably receiving the round handle of a brush to be stored in the toilet box above the water level, one of saidcircular portionsbeing. provided with an integral extension which is partially circular and located in a horizontal plane for extending about the neck of a threaded deodorant container, to be confined on said neck by a threaded cap having apertures, and one of said circular portions being provided with a laterally extending and upwardly open hook for supporting a body of deodorant which is provided with an upwardly accessible eye.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITElj STATE'S' PATENTS 252,556 Warren fan. 17, 1882 383,092 Baker n May 22, 1888 725,655 Beama-n Apr. 21, 1903 968,899 Tyler Aug. 30, 1910 989,090 Watson Apr. 11, 1911' 1,015,183 Hering' Ian. 16-, 1912 1,098,141 Welch May 26; 1914 1,240,377 Seng Sept. 18-, 1917 1,979,755 Nov. 6, 1934' 2,045,473 Keillor haunt June 23', 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,623 Great Britain July 26, 1 892 

